Endless band blade bread slicer



H. G. TATOSIAN ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Original Filed May 1.1947 Oct. 2, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harr G.Tafosian 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H.G. TATOSlAN ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Original Filed May 1. 1947Oct. 2,- 1951 1951 H. e. TATOSIAN 2,569,545

ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Original Filed May 1, 1947 6Sheets-Sheet 5 l ww- H. G. TATOSIAN 2,569,545

ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Oct. 2, 1951 Original Filed May 1. 19476 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5.

- Q r i A I 7 3 m Q W six / g v I jib/ l 7 4 .5 x. w \ix x7 x w I Z5 4?39 In verd'or Harry G- Tafosiarl 1951 H. G. TATOSIAN 2,569,545

ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Original Filed May 1. 1947 sSheets-Sheet 5 125 W 11/ as 1 Will/ m 59 l W E 7 14 as 25 25 2f JInvenfor V 4 rr Z3 62 I l a 5 G TQTOSIQII H. TATOSIAN 2,569,545

ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Original Filed May 1. 1947 Oct. 2, 19516 Sheets-Sheet 6 L m K 1 Invenfo rry GTaTosian Patented Oct. 2, 1951ENDLESS BAND BLADE BREAD SLICER Harry G. Tatosian, Bronx, N. Y.,assignor to King Kone Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original application May 1, 1947, Serial No. 745,132. Divided andthis application January 18, 1949, Serial No. 71,446

Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.745,132, filed May 1, 1947 which became Patent No. 2,514,977, July 11,1950.

The present invention relates to improvements in toasting machines, andit has particular relation to an automatic toasting machine designedespecially for the manufacture in commercial quantities of Melba toast.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of a simple, durableand inexpensive con struction capable of toasting under pressure largequantities of bread slices for making Melba toast in an efiicient,economical and sanitary manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of suitable means forautomatically slicing a plurality of spaced bread loaves positionedwithin a magazine in an efiicient and sanitary manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable means forautomatically positioning the individual bread slices on the toastingplatens in a neat and orderly spaced arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for drivingthe upper conveyor platens through suitable driving connection with thelower conveyor platens, thereby providing synchronization of the twoconveyors in a simple, efficient and economical manner.

Various other and further objects and advantages of the invention, whichresult in simplicity, economy and efiiciency, will be apparent from thefOllOWlIlg detailed description, wherein a preferred form of embodimentof the invention is shown, reference being had for illustrative purposesto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein likenumerals indicate like parts, in which:

Figure 1 is a, side elevational view, with parts in section, of anautomatic toasting machine constructed in accordance with the principlesof the invention, showing the bread magazine in its forward position atthe beginning of its bread slicing stroke;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional View, with parts inelevation, and showing the mounting for the reciprocating bread slicingcarriage, the bread magazine and the rotating cutting blade with itsseveral spaced guiding means;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of themachine shown in Figure 1, with several of the lower conveyor platensremoved for the sake of clearness in illustrating the internal drivingmechanism therefor;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of theend of the machine shown in Figure 4, the same having been takensubstantially along the line 5--5 thereof, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cutting bladeand one of its horizontal holders, the same having been takensubstantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cutting blade and theholders shown in Figure 6, illustrating further details regarding themounting of said rollers;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of one of the vertical guide rollers whichengages the back edge of the rotating cutting blade for holdin it in atransverse plane with resp-ect to the bread magazine;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,the same having been taken substantially along the line 9-9 thereof,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view illustratin thenormal relative position of the bread magazine and its revolving cuttingblade just prior to the start of the bread slicing stroke, whichposition is best shown in Figure 2;

Figure 11 is another diagrammatic view of that portion of the machineshown in Figure 10, the same illustrating the relative position of theseveral parts at substantially the middle of one of its bread slicingstrokes;

Figure 12 is a further diagrammatic view of the several parts shown inFigure 10, the same showing the relative position of the various partsat the end of one of the bread slicing strokes;

Figure 13 is still another diagrammatic view or" the several parts shownin Figure 10, illustrating the relative position of the parts shortlyafter completion of one of its bread slicing strokes and when the breadcarriage has been returned approximately halfway on its return stroke;

Figure it is a further diagrammatic View of the bread slicing mechanismwith its several parts returned to their normal position, as shown inFigure 10, and illustrating the position of the last out row of breadslices on the toasting platen of the lower conveyor;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the discharge of the finishedtoasted pieces from the lower conveyor platens into a suitablecontainer;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic View of a modifiedform of bread carriage, showing the normal relative position of thecutting blade and the bread magazine at the start of the bread slicingstroke, the latter having a rearwardly extending arm for receiving thebread slices as they are cut from the bread loaves, and means forpushing them on said arm in transversely extending and longitudinallyspaced rows onto the lower conveyor platens;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View of the bread carriage andcutting blade shown in Figure 16, the same being shown at the end of itsbread slicing stroke, with the cut bread slices dropping onto thereceiving arm of the reciprocating bread carriage;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View of the apparatus shown inFigure 16, illustrating the manner in which the row of cut bread slicesis transferred from the receiving arm of the reciprocating breadcarriage onto the platens of the lower conveyor;

Figure 19 is another fragmentary view similar to Figure 18, in which therow of cut bread slices has been transferred to the lower conveyorplatens and the various parts have been returned to their normalposition, which is shown in Figure 16, ready to begin the next cuttingstroke; and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relative positionof a plurality of rows of bread slices on a lower conveyor platen withthe last row of slices being 'mcved forwardly into transverse alignmenton said platen by the forward end of the receiving arm of thereciprocating bread slicing mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there isshown a relatively long lower rectangular box-like frame structure 2|,having a plurality of spaced uprights or legs 22 suitably connectedlongitudinally intermediate their ends with a plurality oflongitudinally extending and vertically spaced side plates 23. Mountedon the lower rectangular box-like structure 2| intermediate its 'ends isa relatively short upper rectangular box-like structure 24, having aplurality of spaced uprights or legs 26 formed integrally with theintermediate legs 22 of the lower frame structure 2|, and connected by aplurality of longitudinally extending and vertically spaced side plates21. The plates '23 and 21 are welded, bolted or otherwis e securelyattached to their respective legs '22 and '26. Each-of the side plates23 and 21 is provided intermediate its inner side with a longitudinallyextending horizontal track 23, and the opposing tracks on opposite sidesof the frame structures 2| and 24 provide suitable horizontal guidewaysor trackways. The horizontal tra'ckways 2B in both the upper and lowersupporting "structures 2| and '24 are connected at their'opposite endsby looped end sections '30. The trackways 28 with their respectivelooped end sections 30 provide upper and lower endless trackwaysfor'supporting endless horizontal conveyors 3| and '32 adapted to havetheir inner sections operating in juxtaposition. It will be noted that alarge central section of the lower "horizontal trackway 28 of the upperconveyor 36 I is missing, as best shown in Figure 1, for reasons to behereinafter described.

The lower conveyor 3| consists of a series of platens 33 connectedpivotally end'to end to form an endless circular chain of platens. Eachof the platens 33 0f the lower conveyor 3| is provided with a pair oftransversely spaced apertures or recesses 34,as best shown in Figure 2.The upper conveyor 32 also consists of a series of platens 36, which arelikewise connected pivotally end to end to form a second endless chainof platens. Each of the platens 36 of the upper conveyor is providedwith a pair of spaced outwardly projecting driving studs 31,corresponding in size and shape to the recesses 34 of the platens 33 ofthe lower conveyor 3| with which they are intended to engage in adriving arrangement.

The opposite ends of each of the adjacent platens 33 and 36 of each ofthe conveyors 3| and 32 are mounted on a single transversely extendingaxle 38, whichproje'cts through an axle bar 39, which extends alongopposite sides of each of the platens 33 and 36. The axle bars 39 aresecured removably to the undersides thereof by the bolts 42 (see Fig.3). The outer free ends or journals 4| of each of the axles 38 have aroller 43 journalled thereon, which roller 43 is adapted to operate overthe endless trackways of their respective conveyors (see Fig. 4).

The driving mechanism for the lower conveyor 3| (see Figs. 4 and 9)consists of longitudinally spaced pairs of transversely spaced starwheels 44 and fi l-a and 46 and 46-0. mounted fixedly on spacedtransversely extending shafts 48 and 49, respectively. The ends of theshafts 48 and 49 are journalled in bearing blocks 5| secured by bolts 52to the lower frame structure 2 The end of the shaft 48 on which the starwheels 44 and 44-a (see Fig. 9) are keyed projects outwardly of thelower frame structure 2| on the side adjacent the star wheel 44-11 (seeFig. 2) and has a large gear wheel 53 mounted fixedly on the projectingend thereof. The gear wheel 53 is, in turn, driven by a relatively smallpinion gear 54 keyed to a stud shaft 56 of a conventional reduction gearbox 51 mounted on a suitable supporting platform 58, which is secured tothe lower frame structure 2|. The reduction gear box 51 is, in turn,driven by means of a belt 59 connecting its driven wheel 6| with aconventional electric motor 62 (see Fig. 9), which is also suitablymounted to the lower frame structure 2|. Each of the star wheels 44 and44-11 are provided at each of their corners with grooves or notches 63for engaging the axle bars 33 of the lower platens 33 for driving thelower conveyor along its circular trackway 28 and 30.

The star wheels 46 and 46-11, which are mounted on the opposite end ofthe lower frame structure 2 are, in turn, driven by the axle bars 38 ofthe platens 33 engaging their eorresponding notches 66 as said axle barsare 'moved along their respective trackway 28. The star wheels 46 andlli-a are keyed to their shaft 49 by means of a key 41 (see Fig. 5), andconsequently cause the shaft 49 to rotate with them. The shaft 49 has alarge cam wheel keyed thereto (see Figs. 2 and 4) for reasons to behereinafter described in greater detail.

It will be apparent that no separate driving mechanism is required foroperating the upper conveyor 32, but, when the apparatus is assembled,the projecting lugs 31 of the upper plates 36 which are in juxtapositionwith certain of the lower platens 33 of the lower conveyor "3| will bemounted in engagement with the recesses 34 thereof. In this arrangement,the movement of the lower conveyor 3| will be imparted to the upperconveyor 32, and the projecting lugs 31 of succeeding platens 36 willengage the recesses 34 of succeeding platens 33, causing synchronousmovement of the two conveyors 3| and 32 whenever the lower conveyor 31is being operated. Since a large section of the tra'ckways 28 'of thelower level of the upper conveyor 32 is missing (see Fig. 1), it will beobvious that the platens 36 of the upper conveyor'32 at such pointWill'have a tendency to sag or drop down and rest on the platens33 ofthe lower conveyor 3|. When bread slices 66 are mounted on the platens33 of the lower conveyorel, they will have a'tendency to support thesagging weight of the platens 33 of the upper conveyor 32 (as best shownin Fig. 5), and will be under the pressure of their weight during thetoasting period along tha't portion of its travel which is devoid ofsupporting trackway.

The platens 33 and 36 of the conveyors 3| and 32 may be heated in anysuitable manner sufficient to toast the bread slices 66 wedgedtherebetween. One method of heating the platens 33 of the lower conveyor3I is shown in Fig. 4, and consists of a series of longitudinally spacedand transversely extending gas burners 81 mounted between the oppositesides of the lower frame structure 2I immediately below the underside ofits top row of platens 33 thereof. Each gas burner consists of aperforated pipe coupling 61 mounted on a supporting pipe 68 to provide aseries of transversely spaced gas jets. Each pipe 68 is, in turn,connected adjacent the outer side of the frame structure to a main highpressure gas line 69 extending longitudinally along the outer sidethereof. Each burner pipe 68 is provided with a manually operable valveII for controlling the flow of gas thereto. The burners 61 may be lit inany conventional manner, and, by means of the valves I I, it is possibleto vary the heat of the platens 33 by controlling the number of burnersin operation or by controlling the size of the flame of each burner. Theplatens 36 of the upper conveyor are similarly heated (see Fig. 5) by anindependent series of longitudinally spaced and transversely extendinggas burners I2 positioned immediately below the underside of the upperlevel of platens 36. Each burner I2 consists of a perforated couplingmounted on a supporting pipe I3. The pipe I3 is provided with a manuallyoperable control valve I4, and is connected beyond the valve It to amain high pressure gas line I6 extending longitudinally along one sideof the upper supporting structure 24 (see Fig. 9).

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown the mechanism forsimultaneously cutting or slicing a plurality of bread loaves BI, whichare confined in a suitable bread magazine 82, which is mountedtransversely of the lower frame structure 2| above and adjacent theforward end of the lower conveyor 3|, and immediately in front of saidbread magazine. The bread magazine 82 consists of a plurality of tubularmembers 83, providing a series of transversely spaced pockets, eachadapted to receive a plurality of bread loaves 8I stacked verticallytherein, each pocket having a crosssectional shape substantially thesize and shape of the bread loaves 8 I.

The cutting or slicing mechanism consists of a pair of transverselyspaced angle iron supporting brackets 84 mounted in any suitable manneron opposite sides of the frame structure 2|. A tubular bar 88 is mountedby welding or other suitable means on the brackets 84, and projectsoutwardly on opposite sides of the frame structure 2i, as best shown inFig. 4. The bar 86 has a fixed stud shaft 81 mounted adjacent one endthereof, which projects inwardly of the apparatus, and is adapted tosupport an idler pulley wheel 88. The opposite end of the bar 86 has asuitable shaft 89 extending transversely therethrough and projectingoutwardly on opposite sides thereof. The shaft 88, which is journalledin suitable bearing blocks 9I (see Fig. 1), has a driving pulley wheel82 keyed to its inner end, which is identical in size and shape to theidler pulley wheel 88. The opposite end of the shaft 89, which projectsaway from the apparatus-has a driving pulley 93 keyed thereto, which, inturn, is connected by a belt 94 to a driving pulley 86 of a conventionalelectric motor 91 connected to a source of electric power (not shown).An endless band cutting blade I88 is mounted between the twotransversely spaced pulleywheels 88 and 93, and is driven by itsfrictional engagement with the driving pulley wheel 93. It will bereadily apparent that the cutting blade I88 is adapted to be drivencontinuously and independently of the movement of the conveyors 3| and32. It will also be noted that the blade I88 has the lower side of itscutting edge ground to a sharply tapered point I8I, as best shown inFigs. 10 to 19, to provide a relatively sharp knife cutting edge thatreduces materially the waste in slicing the bread loaves 8I intorelatively thin bread slices 68.

The rapidly revolving endless cutting blade I88 must obviously be heldin a fixed horizontal plane extending tranversely adjacent the front andbottom of the reciprocating bread magazine 82 if the bread slices 66 areto be cut uniformly. The relative positions of the several cutting bladeholding means are best shown in Fig. 3, and consist of spaced pairs ofidentical horizontal roller guide members I82, and spaced identicalvertical roller guide members I83 mounted, as hereinafter described, ona transversely extending bed plate I84 bolted at opposite ends to a railof a longitudinally extending trackway I81 mounted on one of the sideplates 23 by bolts I88.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, each roller guide member I82 consistsof a T-shaped bracket III, secured by bolts II2 to the bed plate I84,and provided with vertically spaced horizontally extending internallythreaded apertures II3 therethrough. Tap bolts H4, having slotted heads,as indicated at H6, and threaded end shanks I I! are adapted to bemounted threadingly in each of the apertures I I 3, providing suitablejournals for rotatably mounting the guide rollers H8. The horizontalguide rollers II8 are spaced vertically a distance sufficient to permitthe rotating endless cutting blade I88 to pass therebetween. The bedplate I84 has an upwardingly extending bar mounted fixedly in anysuitable manner adjacent its outer edge to provide a flange, asindicated at H9.

The mounting for the vertical roller guide members I83 is shown indetail in Figure 8, and consists of a bracket I2I mounted adjacent eachend of a bed plate I22 by means of suitable bolts I23. The bed plate Inhas its lower inner edge tapered, as indicated at I24 (see Fig. 10),andhas an upstanding flange bar I25 secured along its opposite edge. Thebed plate I22 is mounted between the trackways I8! by means of suitablebolts I26. The bracket I2I has a vertically extending internallythreaded aperture I21 adapted to receive a tap bolt I28, providing asuitable journal mounting for the vertically extending guide roller I29to revolve thereon. It will be noted that the guide roller I28, which isfree to revolve on the bolt I28, is mounted so that its circumferentialedge projects a slight distance beyond the tapered edge I24 of the bedplate I22, and is adapted to engage frictionally the rear edge of theendless cutting blade I88, keeping it in a transversely extending planeas it passes in front of the bread magazine 82.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3, 5 and 10 to 14, there is shown in detailthe features of the reciprocating bread magazine 82, which is adapted toreciprocate longitudinally of the forward end of the lower conveyor 3Ion its trackway I8'I. The bread magazine 82 is mounted on areciprocating bread magazine carriage 85, consisting of a pair oftransversely extending spaced cross-bars I3I and I32 (see Fig. 5), whichsupport the same in a vertical position above the front end of the lowersupporting structure 2| and immediately in front of the cutting bladeI00. The cross-bars |3I and I32, extending laterally of the supportingstructure 2 I, carry end plates I33 secured by bolts I34. Each of theend plates I33 is provided with an elongated horizontally extendingaperture I36 to permit the endless cutting blade I to operatetherethrough. Of course, it is understood that the ends of the cuttingblade I66 are not secured to form an endless band until they have beenthreaded through the slots I36 of the end plates I33. A pair ofvertically spaced flanged rollers I31 and I38 are mounted rotatably onthe inner side of each of the end plates 33, and are adapted to engageopposite sides of the horizontal trackway I01. The axle for each of theupper rollers I3? projects through the end plates I33, provid ing anoutwardly projecting stud I39 adapted to have a roller member I l-Ijournalled thereon.

The means for reciprocating the bread magazine carriage 8-6 is mountedon a projecting end of the shaft 43, which passes through the star wheel46 and extends outwardly of the frame structure 2 I. This means consistsof a cam wheel I42 keyed thereto by a key I43, as best shown inFigure 1. The cam wheel I42 is provided with a continuous series of camconformations I44 along its circumferential edge, which are adapted tobe engaged by a cam stud I46 mounted intermediate the ends of a camlever M1. The cam lever I 41 has its lower end mounted fixedly by a pinto one end of a transversely extending shaft I49 journalled in suitablebearing blocks II. A second cam lever IE2 is correspondingly mountedfixedly by a pin I48 to the opposite end of the shaft I49, projectingoutwardly of the lower frame structure 2 I. Each of the cam levers I l-land I 52 have their upper ends bifurcated, and their respectivebifurcations I53 are adapted to engage the adjacent roller member I l-Iprojecting outwardly from the end plates I33 of the bread magazinecarriage 85.

A tension spring I54 (see Fig. 1), having one end connected to the camlever I I'I intermediate its cam stud I46 and bifurcations I33, asindicated at I53, and having its opposite end fastened securely to theframe structure 2 I, as indicated at I61, serves to urge theoam stud I36 tightly atall times against its cam wheel m2 and into its camconformations I44. When the-cam stud I46 is in the position shown inFigure 1, which is at the bottom of one of the cam "conformations hi l,the bread magazine carriage 86 is in a position-in front of the cuttingblade I66, which position is more clearly illustrated in Figure 16. Asthe cam stud I46 rides out of the cam conformation I44, the cam leverHll is forced inwardly against'the tension of the spring I54, drawingthe bread rnagazine carriage 35 inwardly, forcing its confined breadloaves 8| into and through the cutting blade I06, as illustrated inFigurel'l. The spring tensioning means I54 obviously tends to 'force thecam stud I46 tightly against the cam wheel making certain that it is inoperating engagement therewith at-all times.

It will be apparent from the diagrammatic views shown in Figures to '14,both inclusive, that the bread magazine 32, which is mounted between thetransversely extending supporting bars |3I and I32, is positioned ashort distance above the level of the bread supporting bed plate IN. Thebread magazine 82 is provided ,with a .U-shaped guard I33, which.extends .slightlymelow the bottom of the :bread magazineBZ. .The

guard I53 serves to hold the lower portion of the bread loaves 8|, whichis that portion about to be severed therefrom as a bread slice 66,against horizontal movement during the slicing operation. It will benoted that the bed plates I04 and I22 are in different horizontalplanes, and that the bed plate I22 is positioned above the bed plate I64a distance equal to the thickness of a cut bread slice 66. It will alsobe readily apparent from the diagrammatic illustrations of Figures 10 to14, both inclusive, that the bed plate I34 serves to support the breadloaves 8| prior to the cutting of a bread slice 66, and that the bedplate I22 serves to support the bread loaves 8! after the bread slices66 have been cut and until the bread carriage returns to its normalposition. The bread loaves 8| will be fed by gravity onto the lower bedplate I04 when the reciprocating bread magazine carriage 85 movesoutwardly on its return stroke, as best shown in Figure 14.

Referring now to Figures 16 to 19, both inclusive, there is shown amodified form of bread magazine carriage i6I, in which provision hasbeen made for moving the cut bread slices 66 inwardly of the lowerconveyor 3| and arranging them in a regular and orderly manner inlongitudinally spaced rows extending transversely of the platens 33thereof. In this modification, the final position of the cut breadslices 66 is not left to chance, but the bread magazine carriage I6I isprovided with an encircling U-shaped arm I62, having a fiat lowerreceiving platform I63 provided with a downwardly projecting pusher armI64 adapted to glide over the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3|. Inall other respects, the bread magazine carriage |6| is identical withthe bread magazine carriage 85 and operates in a similar manner. In thismodified construction, the bread slices .66, when out from theirrespective bread loaves 6|, drop onto the inner part of the receivingarm or platform I63. When the bread magazine carriage I6! is in itsnormal position (shown in Fig. 16) it is ready for cutting a pluralltyof bread slices. When the bread slices 66 are out, they gravitate ontothe receiving platform I63 (see Fig. 17). When the bread carriage I6Ireturns to its normal position, the cut bread slices 63 are engaged bythe inner edge of the stationary bed plate EM, which causes them to beforced off the receiving platform I63onto the top of the platen .33 ofthe lower conveyor 3| passing therebelow (see Fig. 18). .On the nextinwardly moving or cutting stroke of the bread magazine carriage vI6Iagainst the rapidly revolving cutting blade Hill, the forward edge I64of the receiving platform I63, as it is .moved inwardly, will engage thebread slices 66 resting on the platens 33 and move them further inwardlyand into an orderly transversely extending row. The bread slices 66will be spaced longitudinally in rows transversely of the platens 33since they are moving continuously, and will have moved forwardly asufficient distance during the period of time that the bread carriagemagazine -|6| is reciprocating to form a space between each of saidrowsof bread slices.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 15, bothinclusive, it will be assumed that the gas burners 67 have been lit andthe conveyor platens 33and 36 have been heated to the degree of heatnecessary to toast the .bread slices 66 positioned therebetween to thedesired degree of brownness; that the two conveyors 3| and 32 areoperating continuously and synchronously; that the bread magazinesubdivisions 83 have been filled with loaves of bread 8|; and that thebread cutting blade I III! i being driven in a continuous manner.

The continuous movement of the lower conveyor 3| causes the shaft 49 tobe turned by movement of its keyed star wheels 46 and 46-42 as theconveyor axle bars 38 engage their respective notches 64 in passingtherearound. Turning of the shaft 49 will cause the keyed cam wheel I42to be rotated with it, causing the cam stud I46 to ride in and out ofthe cam conformations I 44 thereof, which will cause the levers I41 andI52 to reciprocate. The reciprocating cam levers I41 and I52, throughtheir connections with the rollers I4I of the bread magazine carriage85, reciprocate the latter, forcing the lower ends of the confined breadloaves 8! across the outer edge of the rapidly revolving cutting bladeI56, causing a bread slice 66 to be cut from each of the bottom loavesin the bread magazine. The cut bread slices 66 will drop onto theplatens 33 of the lower conveyor 3I passing therebelow. By the time thebread magazine carriage B is returned by the action of its bifurcatedlevers I46 and I52.being drawn inwardly by the spring urging means I54to its normal position (see Fig. 10), the platens 33 of the lowerconveyor 3| will have moved inwardly a distance sufficient to carry thelast out bread slices 66 out of the wav of the next to be severed breadslices.

The cut bread slices 66 are a cross-sectional slice of the bread loavesBI, which are especially baked to the size and shape desired in thefinal Melba toast product IIll. These bread slices 66 are cut to athickness slightly larger than the desired thickness of the finishedtoasted bread I'IIJ, because they are compacted, under pressure of theupper platens 36, during the toasting operation. The toasted breadslices I'IU after passing between the platens 33 and 36 of the conveyors3| and 32 will remain on the platens 33 of the lower conveyor 3|, and atits end gravitate into a receiving receptacle III (see Fig. whereby theymay be transported to a packaging operation (not shown). The pressureresulting from the weight of the upper platens 36 on the bread slices 66compresses the cellular bread slice 66 and holds it under suchcompression during the entire toasting period so that no warpage cantake place. While warpage of the toasted bread slice I10 would notrender it unfit for sale or use, it does have several disadvantageswhich should be obviated. Warped toasted bread slices require greaterpackaging space per unit of weight; are much more fragile, resulting inconsiderable breakage in shipment, which is unsatisfactory to theaverage purchaser; and are hard to spread with butter or other ediblespreads since they are quite brittle and have a tendency to break intonumerous small pieces under the spreading pressure of a table knife,especially if the toasted slice is being held on a flat surface, such asplate.

It will not be practical to establish a table of times and temperaturesfor making Melba toast in this manner since each bread formula producesa bread having an entirely different toasting characteristic. Somebreads, especially the rye and brown breads. require more than twice asmuch toasting time as other breads to produce the same degree ofbrownness under the same toasting temperatures. 'Some people like theirbread toasted to a very dark brown, just short of burnt, while othersrequire a very light 10 brown toast. Various markets have differentideas of what is desirable in the way of toasted bread slices, and allof these factors must be taken into consideration by the manufacturer.In the present apparatus, different types of toast may be produced inseveral ways, namely: by varying the speed of the driving motor 62 orreduction gearing 51 to cause the lower conveyor 3| to operate at aslower or faster speed; and by turning off some of the gas burners, orturning all of them down to permit only a small flame, each of which iscontrolled by means of a separate manual valve, to reduce thetemperature of the conveyor platens between which the bread slices areto be toasted. No details are given for varying the speed of the motor62 or the reduction gearing 5'! since such devices are of a conventionalconstruction and form no part of the present invention.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that themachine will cut and toast the bread slices without requiring constantattention of an operator. The only need for an operator is to keep theseveral bread magazines filled at all times with bread loaves, but, ifno bread loaf is positioned in any one or more of the bread magazines,it will not affect the operation of the machine, since it will continueto cut bread slices from such magazines as have bread loaves therein. Inthis manner, the production of the machine may be varied, but obviouslysuch a method is not as efficient as those described hereinbefore.

Although I have shown and described in detail only two modifications ofthe invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat the same is not to be so limited, but that various othermodifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritthereof dr'from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bread slicing mechanism comprising an operating conveyor, trackwaysmounted on opposite sides of said conveyor for supporting a breadmagazine thereover, a bread magazine mounted on said trackways andadapted to be reciprocated thereover having a plurality of tubularpockets for receiving a plurality of bread loaves stacked end to end, astationary platform mounted over said conveyor and below said magazinefor supporting the lowermost loaf of bread in slicing position, astationary receiving platform mounted in a different horizontal planefrom the plane of said supporting means above said conveyor and belowsaid magazine for receiving the lowermost loaf of bread after a slicehas been cut therefrom, an endless band saw mounted adjacent thereceiving edge of said receiving platform, pairs of spaced guide meansat each side of the receiving platform for maintaining said band saw inalignment with the receiving edge thereof and means connected with saidconveyor for intermittently reciprocating said magazine over saidtrackway whereby a slice is cut and deposited on said conveyor.

2. A bread slicing mechanism comprising an operating conveyor, trackwaysmounted on opposite sides of said conveyor over a short portion of itslength for supporting a bread magazine thereover, a bread magazinemounted an said trackways and adapted to be reciprocated thereoverhaving a plurality of tubular pockets for receiving a plurality of breadloaves stacked end to end, a stationary platform mounted over saidconveyor and below said magazine for supporting the lowermost loaf ofbread in each pocket in slicing position, a stationary receivingplatform mounted in a different horizontal plane from the plane of saidsupporting means above said conveyor and below said magazine forreceiving the lowermost loaf of bread in each pocket after a slice hasbeen cut therefrom, an endless band saw mounted adjacent the receivingedge of said receiving platform, spaced pairs of vertically spacedrollers on each side of the receiving platform, rollers for supportingsaid cutting blade in a fixed horizontal plane adjacent the receivingedge thereof, means connected with the driving means of said conveyorfor intermittently reciprocating said magazine over said trackwaywhereby a slice is cut and deposited on said receiving platform, andmeans connected with said magazine for discharging the bread slicestherefrom onto said conveyor.

3. A bread slicing mechanism adapted to be mounted over a continuouslyoperating conveyor, a pair of trackways mounted on opposite sides ofsaid conveyor adapted to support a bread magazine in spaced relationthereabove, a reciprocating bread magazine mounted on said trackwayshaving a plurality of open-ended tubular pockets for receiving aplurality of bread loaves stacked vertically end to end, a stationarysupporting platform mounted over said conveyor and below said magazineacross the back portion of said trackways for supporting the lowermostloaf of bread in each pocket in slicing position below said magazine, astationary receiving platform mounted over said conveyor and below saidmagazine across the front portion of said trackways for receiving andsupporting the lowermost loaf of bread of each pocket after a slice hasbeen cut therefrom, said supporting and receiving platforms being spacedvertically and horizontally from each other, an endless saw adapted tooperate continuously between said platforms, means for operating saidcutting blade, vertically spaced horizontal rollers mounted on oppositesides of said receiving platform for maintaining said band saw invertical alignment with the receiving edge thereof, spaced verticalrollers mounted on each side of the receiving platform for engaging therear edge of said band saw to maintain the same in its transverselyextending plane, and means connected with the driving means of saidconveyor for intermittently reciprocating said magazine over saidtrackway whereby a slice is cut from the lowermost loaf of bread in eachpocket.

4. A bread slicing mechanism adapted to be mounted over a continuouslyoperating conveyor, a pair of trackways mounted on opposite sides ofsaid conveyor along a portion of its length adapted to support a breadmagazine in spaced relation thereabove, a reciprocating bread magazinemounted on said trackways having a plurality of open-ended tubularpockets for receiving a plurality of bread loaves stacked vertically endto end, a stationary supporting platform mounted over said conveyor andbelow said magazine across the back portion of said track- Ways forsupporting the lowermost loaf of bread in each pocket in slicingposition below said magazine, a stationary receiving platform mountedover said conveyor and below said magazine across the front portion ofsaid trackways for receiving and supporting the lowermost loaf of breadof each pocket after a slice has been cut therefrom, said supporting andreciving platforms being spaced vertically and horizontally from eachother, a cutting blade adapted to operate continuously between saidplatforms, means for operating said cutting blade, means associated withthe driving means of said conveyor or for intermittently reciprocatingsaid magazine over said trackway whereby a slice is cut from thelowermost loaf of bread in each pocket, and means carried by saidmagazine for receiving the cut bread slices, said means beingoperatively associated with said supporting means for discharging thebread slices therefrom onto said conveyor.

5. A bread slicing mechanism adapted to be mounted over a continuouslyoperating conveyor, a pair of traclrways mounted on opposite sides ofsaid conveyor along a portion of its length adapted to support a breadmagazine in spaced relation thereabove, a reciprocating bread magazinemounted on said trackwaysv having a plurality of open-ended tubularpockets for receiving a plurality of bread loaves stacked vertically endto end, a stationary supporting platform mounted over said conveyor andbelow said magazine across the back portion of said trackways forsupporting the lowermost loaf of bread in each pocket in slicingposition below said magazine, a stationary receiving platform mountedover said conveyor and below said magazine across the front portion ofsaid trackways for receiving and supporting the lowermost loaf of breadof each pocket after a slice has been cut therefrom, said supporting andreceiving platforms being spaced vertically and horizontally from eachother, a cutting blade adapted to operate continuously between saidplatforms, means for operating said cutting blade, means associated withthe driving means of said conveyor for intermittently reciprocating saidmagazine over said trackway whereby a slice is cut from the lowermostloaf of bread in each pocket, means car-- ried by said magazine forreceiving the cut bread slices, said means being operatively associatedwith said supporting means for discharging the bread slices therefromonto said conveyor, and means carried by said slice receiving meansaligning and moving the discharged bread slice forwardly on saidconveyor on the next cutting stroke.

HARRY G. TATOSIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,809 Bartini Apr. 1, 19241,663,543 Buck Mar. 27, 1928 1,683,445 Brock Sept. 4, 1928 1,824,913Milligan Sept. 29, 1931 1,962,847 Streckfuss June 12, 1934 2,430,504Grills Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 441,634 GermanyMar. 5, 1927 440,730 Great Britain Dec. 27, 1935

